Turn off the DAW and put down the tablet. David Hilowitz (previously) got his thumbs on the Bastl Kalimba, a peculiar and extremely fun-looking handheld that's currently live on Kickstarter. From the company's pitch: "Treat it like an acoustic Instrument, it will answer like one." But it also has an accellerometer, an arpeggiator, multiple synth engines, and the rest of it.
Bastl Kalimba is a unique desktop instrument that combines microphones, touch sensors, and an accelerometer, with a user interface inspired by the traditional kalimba and its main interaction element: the tines. We believe that this combination of features and physical interface leads to intuitive creativity and easy musical expression.
And here's David: "Bastl's take on this instrument carries on many of its strengths …. they've clearly put a lot of thought into what makes this fun to use."
They're not cheap (€489, about $569), but that's still cheaper than a Kaoss Pad these days; a standard kalimba is maybe $30 at your local music shop.
Previously:
• A beautiful and affordable didgeridoo
• Beautiful musical instruments made from ice
• Peter 'Sleazy' Christopherson's DIY musical instruments
